ICC World Cup, 2007

Bulletin

Cautious New Zealand Face Bangladesh In Antigua

2 April 2007

After getting thrashed by champion Australia in their super eight opener, Bangladesh
is facing another trans Tasmanian giant New Zealand at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
in Antigua today. The job of the Tigers are not getting any easier as New Zealand
is the only team in the competition, except Australia with a 100% winning record.

Bangladesh brought Kiwis back to the earth after they tormented Australia in
the Chappel Hadlee series prior to the world cup and that very recent memory
is forcing the Kiwis to keep their feet on the ground ahead of the super eight
clash.

New Zealand skipper Stephen Flemming was cautiously optimistic to ease past
Bangladesh but paid respect to the potential challenge the Tigers might pose.

"They turned us over in the warm-up game and if conditions are right, they
can be quite a handful," he said.

"The danger is complacency, under-estimating what they can do. They bowl a
different length, they provide different challenges, challenges you don't get
facing your own bowlers in the nets - so that's where the adjustment comes from,"
he added.

Apart from the in-form fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh's key weapon
is their slow left arm army led by Mohammad Rafique. The spin trio has got the
variation and discipline to keep things tight in the crucial middle overs to
check the run flow. Bangladesh will be certainly hoping for a full 50 over match
for the best utilization of their strengths.

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar is determined to bounce back after the humiliating
defeat in the curtailed opening match and promised a better show.

"We have beaten New Zealand in a warm-up game and we had a good win against
India. The match against Australia was a tough one and 22 over match made the
situation even more difficult. We made few early mistakes and the boys are keen
to rectify those against the Kiwis" said Bashar.

"We strongly believe that if we play together, we can beat anyone" Bashar added.
It shows that the huge defeat against Aussies has failed to dent the fearlessness
of the young Tigers and they want to continue their hunt in the second round
of the world cup.

"We had a team talk after the (Australia) match and I heard from all the boys
they think, they are not finished yet. They want to do something against New
Zealand to keep their tournament alive."

If Bangladesh's youth brigade can translate their optimism in the field, they
have got the potential to topple the Kiwis yet another time.

Syed Rasel is likely to regain his place in Bangladesh side after Tapsh Baisya
suffered a foot injury against Australia. For New Zealand, Mark Gillespie might
get the nod to play his first match of the competition.